Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-09-18

New Jersey, responded to the toast
"The Constitution OF the United
States" Ex-Governor Curtin then
introduced President Cleveland, who
made speech eulogizing the society
and its achievements in America, az
well as abroad.
AN EPIsTLE FROM BLAINE.
The Centennial G Commission received
to-day from the Hon. james Blaine a
letter expressing his sincere regret at
his inability to attend the celebration.
He speaks of the anniversary as a
great event, to be celebrated for all
time by the American people, and
eulogizing the trainers and signers Of
the Constitution.
| EvENING-GRAND BANQUET.
The celebration ended tonight with
a grand banquet given by the Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania, the American
Philosophical Society, the College of
Physicians, the Law Academy, the
Historical Society, the Franklin In
stitute, Academy of Fine Arts and
Academy of Natural Science to Presi-
dent Cleveland and other distin-
guished guests of the Centennial
Commission at the Academy of Mu-
sic. A floor was laid over the seats in
the parquette and tables for 600 per-
sons, were spread. Bowers of grow
ing plants and cut flowers hid all from
the gaze of persons on the lower floor,
the border and stage being deliberately
decorated with flowers.
THE PRESIDENT ARRIVES.
The President took his seat at the
place of honor in the northern side of
the building, fianked on the right by
Provost Pepper who acted as toast
master, and on the left by Geo. w.
Childs.
| DISTINGUISHED GUESTS.
Other guests at the table were Sec
retaries Bayard and Fairchild, and
Fred. K. Frayley, Ex-Governor Hugh
Gordon, Hannibal Hamlin, Mayor
Filter, Jas. Jay, Isaac Ellwell, Carl
Schultz, Chas. Francis Adams, and J.
M. Wilmer. At other tables were
seated among others, Justices of the
Supreme Court, and officers of the
army and navy. The menu was most
elaborate.
| APPEARANCE OF THE LADIES.
While the gentlemen We're still
eating, Mrs. Cleveland, accompanied
by Mrs. Lamont, entered the pros
cenium box and was greeted with an
outburst of applause. She was fol-
lowed by the appearance in the bal
cony of the wives and daughters OF
the gentlemen on the floor. As soon
as the ladies had taken their seats,
Provost Pepper opened the speech
making
CLEVELAND TOASTED.
He referred to the various organiza-
tions under which the banquet to the
President was given as an ontgrowth
of that momentous event of which this
was the hundredth anniversary, and
called on the President to respond to
the toast of the President of the
United States"
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
The President rising replied as fol-
lows: "On such day as this, and in
the atmosphere that now surrounds
him, l feel that the President of the
United States should be- thoughtfully
modest and humble. The great office
he occupies stands to-day in the pres
ence of its maker and it is especially
fitting for this servant of the people
and creature of the constitution amid
the impressive scenes of this centen-
NAL occasion, by rigid selfish exam
ination to be assured concerning his
| loyalty and obedience"
A PRESIDENTS REQUIREMENTS.
He will find that the rules pre-
scribed for his guidance require for
the performance of his duty not in
tellect or attainments which would
raise him far above the feelings and
sentiments of the plain people of the
land, but rather such knowledge of
their condition and sympathy with
their wants and needs as will bring
him nearer to them, and though he may
be almost appalled, by the weight of his
own responsibility and the solemnity
of his situation, he cannot fail to find
comfort and encouragement in the
success the fathers of the Constitution
wrought from their simple
PATRIOTIC DEVOTION
To the rights and interests OF the
people. Surely he NAV hope that if
the reverently invoked spirit which
gave the constitution life will be suffi-
cient for its successful operation and
the accomplishment of its beneficent
purposes. Because they are brought
nearest to the events and scenes
which marked the birth of American
institutions, the people of Philadelphia
should of all our citizens be most i'm
bued with sentiments Of broadest
patriotism. The first continental Con-
gress and Constitutional convention
met here and Philadelphia still has in
her keeping the Carpenters Hall, In
dependence Hall, its bell and the
grave of Franklin.
CULTURED ASSEMBLAGE.
AS look about me l see here repre-
sented societies that express SO largely
the culture OF Philadelphia, its love OF
art, its devotion to science, its regard
for the broadest knowledge and its
studious care for historical research ;
societies, some Of which antedate the
constitution. / feel that am in nota-
BILE company.
PRECIOUS HEIRL0oMs.
To you is given the duty OF preserv-
ing and protecting for your city, for
all your fellow countrymen and for
mankind, the traditions and incidents
related to the establishment of the
freeest and best government ever
vouchsafed to man, and as time leads
our government further and further
from the date OF it's birth, you may
solemnly remember that the nation
expects of you that these traditions
and incidents shall never be furnished
nor neglected, but that, briefly bur-
nished, they may always be held aloft,
| f.ataninV the uaze of n patriotic people